Customer Reviews

Pièces de Clavecin en Concerts Avec Flûte et Violon

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I have been haggling with AMAZON for the past month about their advertising this CD with Valery Gergiev and the Orchestra from St. Petersburg. They refuse to correct their listing. There are THREE musicians on the recording. THREE. Flute, harpsichord, and violin. THREE. I have no complaint about the seller or HIS service.

O.K., I'll admit that the flute and violin soloists are both classical superstars, while the harpsichordist is not so much of a household name. This is not to say that he doesn't play as well as his two colleagues, but it probably explains why some misguided recording engineer thought these works were written for two "solo" instruments with a background accompaniment that should be kept as discreet as possible. The reality is exactly the opposite: These works are essentially harpsichord pieces (Rameau was one of the greatest composers for the instrument in France) with the addition of two melody instruments that are actually optional: in his preface, Rameau explains that these works can be performed as solo harpsichord works. It's a shame the balance is so lopsided, because I'd love an alternate to "original instrument" recordings, one played on modern instruments with lush sonority and tonal sheen. This doesn't preclude historically informed playing, but it does require a proper recording balance, which this disc simply does not have.